Gear Reviews

Field test and review – Ktena have reignited my faith in merino wear. Merino Skins® will certainly be my go-to base-layer for the unforeseeable future. I love the fact these are Aussie made as the quality is testament to what we can produce in Australia.

Field test and review – At the end of our six day 110km hike we were thrilled the Tesalate Workout Towels came along for the journey.

Field test and review – If you haven’t heard of Zorali, they are an Aussie brand committed to being a leader on the path towards a sustainable, outdoor lifestyle. I recently had the opportunity to field-test the Zorali Recycled Venture Pants

Field test and review – The Elinz 4K/60FPS UHD Sports Action Camera is a great camera that provides a ton of features for very little outlay. Perfect for anyone wanting to record their outdoor adventures.

Field test and review – The Illumina X was quick to setup, a breeze to pack down, roomy for one person and all my gears, the design seems well thought out, the construction is solid and best of all, the price, for this 4 season tent places it in the truly affordable bracket.

Field test and review – Fjällräven market the Keb Trousers as ‘technically advanced trekking trousers with optimised fit and carefully planned details. Intended for alpine trekking that requires climbing’. Check out my review.

Field test and review – If you are looking for a new tent for your weekend adventures or a secondary tent for camping at the trail head of your multi-day hikes, check out the Quechua 2 Seconds Pop-Up Fresh & Black Camping Tent.

Field test and review – The Quechua Forclaz Trek 100 Jacket is a great spring jacket that will keep you warm and comfortable in temperatures above 10 degrees C.

Field test and review – I was recently sent a Quechua MH100 Hiking Fleece to field test and are most impressed by this warm, light weight, 100% eco-friendly and affordable mid-layer.

Field test and review – The Nemo Tensor™ Ultralight Insulated Mummy Sleeping Pad is one the lightest pads on the market and provided me with a comfortable and silent sleep with the pad insulating well at three-season temperatures (yet to test in the snow).

Field test and review – If you are in the market for a light, supple, stretchy, fashionable and environmentally conscious outer shell, I encourage you to check out Patagonia Recycled Rainwear Collection.

Field test and review – The Montem Ultra Light 3K Carbon Fiber Trekking Poles are a reasonably well-priced (USD$119.99), sturdy carbon fiber pole that I am happy to recommend for serious overnight hikes or multi-day treks.

Field test and review – What a great looking boot that I am more than happy to wear off the trail. They come in a range of colours so if black is not your thing, I am sure you will find a style you like.

Field test and review – For now, Salomon Sense Ride 2 have become my new go-to hiking shoe for day-hikes. If the upper and tread perform well in terms of durability, Salomon has created yet another great low-profile shoe with a nice balance of performance and comfort.

Field test and review – The Quechua MH500 Men’s Mid Waterproof Mountain Hiking Boots are an excellent mid-height boot that I have really enjoyed field-testing. Check out my review.

Field test and review – Recently I was contacted by Summit Global, who is the Australian distributor for the COXA M18 Day Pack. As you might imagine, I was somewhat excited as I agreed to field-test this intriguing day pack.

Field test and review – Panda Child Carrier. Designed for the harsh sun conditions we’re used to here and are suitable for kids from seven months to four years old.

Field test and review – I am impressed to say that there was no wearing-in required with the Ascent Explore, they offered me comfort and protection, right out of the box. I am thrilled to announce that I have found an excellent hiking shoe that will remain my shoe of choice for many hikes to come.

Field test and review – The SNOWGUM Cooper Mk3 boots have impressed me again with their ability to keep us upright and our feet dry, comfortable and protected.

Field test and review – SOARTD claim to be passionate about producing higher quality, better performing clothes that are more durable and that effortlessly coordinate, and seamlessly transcend situations you may find yourself in.

Field test and review – Overall, I found that the hammock felt sturdy, was quick and easy to hang, comfortable to sleep in, had plenty of room, adequate storage for my smaller gear and was perfect for relaxing around the campsite after a hike as well as sleeping in.

Field test and review – I am really pleased that I received the Trekkers Wool before this hike as it really made the entire experience a lot more enjoyable. If you hike, I highly recommend that you grab yourself a bag and give it a go for yourself. Walking, blister free is so much more enjoyable.

Field test and review – As a well-priced, sturdy, value for money pole, I am happy to recommend the Montem Ultra Strong Cork Trekking Poles.

Field test and review – The Diadema 18L Hiking Daypack is the perfect, cost effective, way to add a day pack to your travel or overnight gear without the extra space or weight you would normally expect.

Field test and review – The CamelBak Fourteener 20 is a comfortable, versatile and lightweight pack (weighing in at only 1.1kg). I look forward to many more adventures with it.

Field test and review – In my opinion, the Grivel G10 New-Classic crampons are perfect for hikers and mountaineers who need easy-to-use equipment for their winter adventures.

The Grivel G1 Ice Axe features a traditional design to give you everything you need in a hiking/mountaineering axe without compromising strength or performance.

Field test and review – I am quite impressed with the features and benefits of the Osprey Aether AG™ 70 and encourage you to check one out in-store before making your next overnight pack purchase.

Field test and review – Overall the Jetboil Flash met all of my expectations and preformed the way they said it would. I would highly recommend this stove to anyone.

Field test and review – I am a huge fan of the new Helinox Chair Zero. A huge fan! It is my chair of choice for any pack carry or multi-day adventure.

Field test and review – All and all the SNOWGUM Micro 600 Down Sleeping Bag is a great sleeping bag for mild climates and I would highly recommend it.

Field test and review – I haven’t yet slept on every pad on the market, but from my early experiences this pad is certainly ranks among the best I have slept on and for the price is really is a great investment.

Field test and review – If you’re like me and tired of waterproof-breathable rain jackets that don’t live up to expectations, I suggest you give the SNOWGUM VaporTEC® Jacket a try.

Field test and review – From my experiences to date, the build quality seems excellent all around. They are comfortable, very light weight (for their size), extremely durable, and completely adjustable in all the right places.

Field test and review – If you enjoy moderate hikes and don’t often head into the deepest wideness areas and are looking for a wrist worn activity tracker that doubles as a GPS will then the Fitbit Surge is for you.

Field test and review – After putting these shoes through their paces I am confident in saying that you would be hard-pressed to find a better mid-priced (sub $300) lightweight, waterproof hiking shoe.

Field test and review – The Chinook is light weight, flexible, durable, spacious, has large vestibules which are great for cooking, and packs down surprisingly small to fit neatly into your pack.

Field test and review – If you are new to hiking or don’t quite have the budget for a more expensive boot I strongly encourage you to give the SNOWGUM Cooper MKII VaporTEC® Boot a go. If you are a club member $99 is a steal.

Field test and review – The Mini is an effective, small, lightweight, and versatile water filter that won’t break the bank. If that doesn’t do it for you, no filter will. I highly recommend you pick a Sawyer Mini today. You won’t be disappointed.

Field test and review – I love these poles and take them on every hike. They are so light and so small that if you don’t need to use them you won’t even notice you have them in your pack.

Field test and review – What I really want to say here is that If I hadn’t of been in possession of my ArmaSkin on the 120km trek when wearing my brand-spanking-new boots, I definitely would not have endured the pain of skin peeling from my heels.

Field test and review – I can say without question that our SV Topographic Map provided us with the knowledge and confidence to get-it-right the first time and not spend hours in the bush trying to guess our way.

Field test and review – Outdoor Research best sellers, the Arete Gloves are among the most versatile alpine gloves available, offering grip, dexterity and waterproof protection for extended backcountry adventures.

Field test and review – I was so thankful that I had my Mountain Designs Gore® WINDSTOPPER® Jacket on my Field Test to Kala Patthar (5643m/18513ft)

Field test and review – For the rest of the journey via Lobuje to Gorak Shep the conditions did not relent. It was -50 but it certainly didn’t feel that cold as we progressed under the comfort of our GORE-TEX® gear.

Field test and review – Ultimately the choice of pack comes down to fit, comfort and whether it meets the users requirements, for me when I put the Featherlite Freedom on, it fits, it is comfortable and I barely notice it being there.

Field test and review – Comfort while hiking and camping is worth a few grams as the Helinox Ground Chair takes outdoor comfort to a new level of lightweight portability.